Lucky Murdock

Poetry

Lucky Murdock: Three Skomps & Guidelines

A Decrease font size. A Reset font size. A Increase font size.

14

SKOMP! (EXPERIMENTAL POETRY)

“I started this experiment sometime during grad school. I believe it was 2018. My foremost goal with this project was to unblock my creative urges. What I created is something I would describe as “noise poetry.” SKOMP! incorporates improvisation, the subconscious, and unflinching honesty.”

*

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING A SKOMP

Awareness
You must have a concept of self in order to write a skomp.

Intent
A skomp should be done with intent.

Commitment
You should never delete any part of a skomp, only entire skomps.

Focus
You should not step away before finishing a skomp.

Title
The purpose of a skomp’s title is to frame its reception.

Form
A skomp is always a sonnet.

Rules
Rules are for nerds.

Conflict
A skomp should be in conflict with itself.

Meaning
A skomp’s meaning is subjective and is inflicted by its audience, not its author.

***

Skomp for Gertrude Stein

holddyourbereath
holdyournekstringshold
ydol holdyourhandstrings
don’thold myhand don’t
hold scissors whenyourundowntheupescalator
don’thold the left handles
don’t help thosewith knoe knees
havecofee have tea
have cocaineonyour breath
withGertrudeStein with Gertrude Stein with Gert
rudeStein theplastics
the plastics we meadeinthe
1960s are aging getting older so they’l be
toxic rainbowsonthefloor

*

Sonnet for the End of the World

manwhat the fuckin hams
the world justupand ands
it ands as in yes, and
in somefarcical envenevelovent
hope dampenere ringwallid
lead poised halibutangry
peopledying fuckyou
you rich fuck
fuck you
you other rich fuck
the world is goddamn ending
and you’re con’rd
that virus gon’ get
ur guts

*

Shatter

waitforthat bi bulb to
pop in your facehold glass sprinkles
inyour pulmones in your alveoli ravioli
medical dictionarty art diction
thepop the old pops tink tink
plow the tissuepaperof your eyelids
withrazorfrisbeeze hacking up black tar
tlevision is the television of the tlelel
atlaltl hurls mas into sa asinglepoint
will my shoes outlast my feet?
atlas wrapsup space into a tiny
little bound section of hell
iron wafflwes make bagandbangbagsand
bagandabagandbagsandopenlooseandbagsandbangsandloosewaste

*

(Featured image of deconstructed typewriter from pxhere)

Lucky Murdock

View Author Archive
Lucky (the monster) is a queer, non-binary linguistic anarchist, poet, and unapologetic lover of all things weird. Primarily a scuzzy punk, they’ve also invented the skomp, a form of experimental sonnet, and occasionally weave stories that blend language, technology, and imagination in unexpected ways. Lucky earned their MFA in Writing from UCSD, where they delved into the transformative potential of creative processes in ARTMACHINA: An Inquiry Into the Technologies and Processes of Writing, the Self and the Potential Futures They Share. With over six years of teaching experience, they have guided students in writing and communication, fostering bold ideas with a focus on accessibility and creativity. When not writing or teaching, Lucky performs with their band, Slime Monsters from Outer Space, spends time with their dog, Bajonka, or experiments with guitar effects at Audio! Audio!. Through verse, sound, and visuals, Lucky is dedicated to creating work that challenges norms and sparks meaningful connections.

What are you looking for?